Pheasant season open; days remain to take a deer

The state’s pheasant season is now underway, but wildlife biologists and hunters alike are wondering if this year’s harvest will be as good as in the past few years.

The problem has been lack of rainfall for most of the state’s outdoorsmen whether it is fishing lakes that are lower than normal or hunters who are looking at low hatch numbers for quail and pheasants. Everything that is hunted in the state has been affected by the lack of rainfall in one way or another.

In the panhandle, farmers have experienced less crop production due to the dry period and that in turn has affected the reproduction by affecting the habitat in which the game nests or takes refuge.

Hunters traveling to western Oklahoma are finding that some crops have not been harvested yet, making the birds want to run rather than fly. And those birds that do try to escape by wing have a hard time clearing the crops to gain flight.

The dry weather has also affected the usefulness of bird dogs. The dryness makes it hard for the dogs to track the birds as well as find them when downed. The dogs use their sense of smell more than sight and the scent is not as strong as when moisture is present.

Hunters in Kansas are finding the same thing in their state. A friend journeyed there for a group hunt and though they harvested a total of 53 pheasant, the numbers were low for a group of 9 hunters for a week’s worth of hunting. These hunters also found the crops still standing.

The state’s pheasant season runs December 1 through January 31. Be sure to consult the 2012-2013 Hunting Guide for regulations and areas open to pheasant season.

Deer hunters on track

for a record year

Oklahoma hunters are well on their way to setting a record for the state’s annual deer harvest if early surveys are any indication. Going into the gun season, hunters had already harvested 26 percent more animals than at this same time last year.

Good weather, good deer movement and tens of thousands of hunters could break the record of 102,100 set in 2000. Many will enjoy their first deer hunt this year. And though it may be their first, when we traditionally think of a youngster and their first hunt, this may not be the case.

Several hunters from 21 to 65 are enjoying their first hunt. The state has several hunters who are just now learning and taking part in their first hunt, despite their age.

I have talked to several “older” hunters who have just now become interested in the sport and have done so because of the opportunities offered by a significant increase in the size of the herd – bettering their chance of scoring a deer or at least the ability to see one and possibly take a shot.

Again, be sure to consult the regulations booklet for special regs and areas. The state’s archery season runs through January 15th.

Christmas gift that keeps on giving

Even though Christmas has come and gone, think about it: a Christmas gift that lasts a full year and can be used daily. Wouldn’t that be a great gift?

Well, you can give that special outdoors person that very gift by buying them a subscription to “Outdoor Oklahoma” magazine.

The latest issue, the calendar issue, is out now and features a wide variety of subjects that will be of interest to even those who are not hunters or anglers. The magazine is full of items of interest concerning all of Oklahoma and the award-winning photography is both professional and in some issues, submitted by the readers.

To gain your own copy or buy one for a special person, you can write to: ODWC, P.O. Box 53465, Oklahoma City, OK 73152. A 1-year subscription is $10, 2-year $18 and three-year $25. Enclose a check or money order made out to the ODWC.